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Daily Living
More Is Not Always Better
Metabolic Syndrome Increases Your Risk
Heart-Healthy Lifestyle BasicsMaking healthy lifestyle choices is a good way to help you reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other diseases. Here are a few things to consider when thinking about heart-healthy basics: • Know your blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure levels. A cholesterol blood test will show your levels of LDL (low-density) and HDL (high-density) cholesterol and triglycerides. • Keep a healthy weight. If you are overweight, losing just 10 percent of your body weight can help you reduce your risk factors for heart disease.3 • Eat a healthy diet and try not to overeat. Eat fewer calories and less saturated fat. Eat plenty of whole grains, fish, and fruits and vegetables. Choose unsaturated fats when eating fats. Limit the amount of salt you eat. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. • Increase your physical activity. Talk to your health care provider about what kind of physical activity is best for you. If you’re medically able, get at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, at least 5 days a week. • Take all of your medications as prescribed. Work with your health care provider to outline a plan for your specific needs. |
Roger is a big man, in more ways than one. He carries his weight around his waist. His blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels are all above normal.
Roger went to the clinic for his annual physical exam. He went home knowing he had metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that occur together. They increase your chances of developing heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.1
About 47 million people in the United States have metabolic syndrome.1 That is almost 15 percent of the all the people living in America.
Risk Factors
Here’s a brief look at what you need to know about metabolic syndrome.
The five conditions below are all risk factors for heart disease. If you have one of these risk factors you are likely to have others. The more of these risk factors you have, the higher the risks to your health.1, 2
• A large waistline: This is a waist size of 35 inches or more for women and 40 inches or more for men.
• A higher than normal blood pressure measurement: This is a blood pressure measured at 130/85 mm Hg or higher. You are still at risk if you are already on medicine to treat high blood pressure.
• A higher than normal fasting blood glucose level: This is measured at 100 mg/dL or higher. You are still at risk if you are on medicine to treat high blood glucose levels.
• A lower than normal HDL cholesterol level: This is less than 50 mg/dL for women or less than 40 mg/dL in men. You are still at risk if you are on medicine to treat low HDL.
• A higher than normal triglyceride level: This is 150 mg/dL or higher. You are still at risk if you are on medicine to treat high triglycerides. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood.
Your health care provider may mention metabolic syndrome when a person has at least three of these risk factors.1
In general, people with metabolic syndrome are twice as likely to develop heart disease as people without metabolic syndrome. They are five times as likely to develop diabetes.1
Get started on a heart-healthy path today!
If you have metabolic syndrome, you and your health care provider will work to reduce your risk for heart disease. You can start with changes to daily habits. This includes losing weight, becoming more physically active, making healthy food choices and stopping smoking.
If you already have heart disease and/or diabetes, lifestyle changes can help you prevent or delay complications such as heart attack, stroke, and the long-term effects of diabetes.3
References:
1 National Heart Lung and Blood Association Diseases and Conditions Index, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/index.html. Accessed June 9, 2009.
2Parish J, Adam T, Facchiano L. Relationship of Metabolic Syndrome and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2007 August 15; 3(5): 467–472.
3 National Heart Lung and Blood Association, Aim for a Healthy Weight. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/risk.htm Accessed June 9, 2009.